Flying-machine.



W.l E. SOMERVILLE.

FLYING MAcmNE.

APPLICATION |LED NOV. 4,1910.A

Patented Sept. 21, 19M

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

e v. 4, 1910. 1,154,214. Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM E. soMERvILLE,v oF COAL CITY, rumors.

FLYING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. SOMER- viLLE,a citizen of the United States, residing at Coal City, in the county ofGrundy and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvementsin FlyingwMachines, -of which the following is a full, clear, conoise,and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in aeroplanes and has for itsobject-the production of a machine possessing means for maintaining orrestoring equilibriuml of the machine when in the air.

The further object is the production of a machine possessing positivemeans for varys ing the effective working area of the planes.

Further objects are the production of a machine, the structure of whichcombines .ilightness and strength and a machine that can be easilyoperated. i

These and such further objects as may hereinafter appear are obtained bymy device, an embodiment of which'is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of mymachine; Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of one end of the upperplane-'frame and extension with the shutter opened; Fig. 3 represents aview similar to Fig. 2 with the shutter closed.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

My invention relates to that class of iiying machines in-which theweight is sustained by reactions occasioned by the movements of one ormore planes through the air, mechanical power and the force of gravityboth being utilized.

I have illustrated my improvement in connection witha biplane, but allof the essential elements of my invention are as well applicable for usewith a monoplane.

Referring now to the drawings, A represents a supporting frame, B anupper main plane, C a lower mainplane, D an upper rear plane, E a lowerrear plane, F a front plane or elevator, G a rear elevator hingedlysecured to the rear of the plane D, H a central iin rigidly mounted on`the top of the plane B and centrally located thereof and I an engine ofany suitable type properly positioned within the frame of the machine.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

Application filed November 4, 1910. Serial No. 590,621.

All of the planes with the exception of the planev D areslightly'curved, with the Concave side downward, as shown at 4, and arepreferably formed with tough wooden frames having side pieces 5-5 andcurved cross bars 6 over which canvas is tightly stretched, forminglight and strong planes.

The ends of the upper plane B are extendedbeyond the end of the lowerplane C, as shown, and the extreme end curved upward at 8, the upwardlycurved portion being also covered as shown at 9. A plurality of movablycovered slats 10 are pivotally mounted between the bars 7 being pivotedat 11 and a bar 12 is hingedly secured to the top of the slats 13,forming, in effect, a Venetian blind, the opening and closing of whichis under the control of the operator, as will be set forth later. vAspring 14 mounted on the upper end of the curved portion of the plane isconnected with the end 'of the bar 12, thus holding the slats normallyin closed position. Theelevator F is constructed the same as the otherplanes, but is much shorter and occupies a position slightly above thelevel of the lower plane C. This elevator is pivotally mounted on top ofthe upwardly curved ends of the runner 16 of the skid and is alsoprovided with a pair of bars l'zL and 17 extending above and below thesurface f the plane. A central post 18 is mounted on the top of theelevator from the end of which extends rearwardly a connecting rod 19,the

rear end of which is pivotally secured at 20 to the controlling lever21.` This controlling lever is pivoted at its lower end tothe main frameat 22.

The vrear elevator G which is hingedly mounted on the rear end of thelevel plane D is also provided `with a pair of bars 23 extending aboveand below the plane.

The front and rear elevators F and G are connected together by means ofconnecting wires 241 passing from the top of the post 17 to the bottomof the post 23, a wire 25 from the bottom of the post 17 to the top ofthe post 23, a wire 26 from the top of the post 17 to the bottom of thepost 23 and a wire 27 from the bottom of the post 17a to the top of thepost 23. An operating wheel 28 is mounted on the rear of the lever 21directly in front of the seat 29 reserved for the operator. By pushingthis lever for'- ward and back the operator can incline the elevators toany desired degree, the two be ing connected to work in oppositedirections, that is, when the elevator F is tilted upwardly the elevatorG is pulled downwardly and vice versa.

The operation of the shutters at the ends of the top plane are alsooperated through the medium ofl this wheel 28, the wheel being providedWith a peripheral groove 30 which is connected with the inner end of thebars 12 at 33, the wire or connection 31 passing downwardly from thewheel and thence v 37 extend around the pulleys 38 on one of the uprightdiagonal braces 39 to the rudder. A rear rudder 35a is movably mountedbetween the rear planes lland E and connected to move with the frontrudder.

While it is intended to operate the'shutter by means of the wheel and inso doing the slack allows one shutter to beclosed while the other isheld manually opened, it is evident that in the event that a strong windis encountered, the closed shutter will be forced open, the strength ofthe spring being so arranged as to permit theopening of the shutterunder predetermined conditions.

The skid comprises the runner 16 curved upwardly as shown in Fig. 1, theupright braces 40, diagonal braces 41, cross braces 42 and diagonal rearbraces 43. A pair of wheels `44 are mounted on an axle 45 secured inrockin bearings 46 on the skid frame. Springs 4 are connected with thebearings 46 by means of which any jar incident to sudden alighting istaken care of, thereby preventing injury to the machine.

The engine J may be of any desired type on the rear shaft of which ismounted the propeller wheel 48.

The rear planes are connected to the front by means of longitudinal bars50 which extend forwardly, forming the upper bars of the main' frame orskid and are set sufficiently far apart to permit the free revolution ofthe propeller. The planes B, C and D, E are secured together by means ofuprights 51 suitably placed and suitably tied together by means' ofconnecting wires. Guy wires 53 also extend from the end of the curvedupward :extension ofthe upper front plane to :the end of the lowerplane.

'I he central 1in H is rigidly mounted midway of the machine and isfurther held in It will be noted that the wire place by Ameans ofthevguy wires 54 extending from the top of the fin to the'side bars 5 ofthe upper plane.

The gasolene tank 55 and the cooler 56 are located in any desiredposition adjacent the engine. Suitable'spring supports 57 are eX- tendeddownwardl from the ends of the lower planes C an E forming supports forthat portion of the machine and also serving as buffers if the machineshould when alighting happen to strike the rear portion first.

Referring now to the operation of my device,'it is not the intention ofthe applicant to go into any extensive discussion or explanation of theart of aeronautics as this invention vhas to deal with actualdetails ofconstruction and the operationof the parts so constructed.

The 'first feature to be considered is that of the upturned end of theupper plane. This is made rigid and of as great a. strength as theplanes of the machine. Vhen the machine is'in the air, and if, for'anyreason, one end tips more than desired, the curved end acts as a skid infalling to force the machine to right itself. This'operation is assistedby means of the central fin H against which the air rushes as themachine is in the act of falling. The air from below the plane rushingout under the plane tends to force the plane upwardly into a horizontalposition while at the same time the air rushing up the uppervside of theplane strikes against the face of the finI-I and also the upturned endsof the highest end of the plane. The lower upturned end will also in ameasure compress the air to such an extent that the three forces willform a righting couple that will immediately force the plane to a levelkeel.

In the machines as now constructed in which the stability is maintainedby the warping of the plane or by the use of ailerons whenever eitherare use they tend to cause the aeroplane to turn from lits course,adding resistance to the lower side, and in order to counteract thetendency to turn the machine the vertical rudder must be used, whereasin my improved machine the vertical rudder is' not required in rightingthe machine as there. is no resistance to overcome.

The machine in question is not merely a creature of imagination oratheoretical device, but one that has stood the test of actual flightover long periods of time and on many occasions.

While I have illustrated particular forms of construction and wiringwith `respect` to the aeroplane illustrated, I in no way limit myselftosuch specific construction as these details form no part of-myinvention.

I claim Y 1. A flying machine comprising a motor, an upper main plane, alower main plane,

a pair of rear planes, a movable front plane, the outer ends of theupper plane being curved upwardly, a fin extending upwardly from thecenter of said upper main plane, a movable rea'r plane, and meanswhereby said movable planes may be moved in unison in oppositedirections. v

2. A flying machine comprising a motor, an upper m"ain plane, a lowermain plane, a pair of rear planes, a movable front plane, the outer endsof the upper plane being curved upwardly, a central lin extendinglongitudinally of said machine andprojecting upwardly from the centralportion of said upper main plane,a movable rear plane, and means wherebysaid movable planes may be moved in unison in opposite directions.

3. A flying machine comprising a motor,

an upper main plane, a lower main plane, av

p'air of rear planes, a movable front plane, the outer ends of the upperplane being curved upwardly, a fin extending upwardly from the center ofsaid upper main plane, a

' movable rear plane, mea-ns whereby said movable planes may be moved inunison in opposite directions, and hand operated means whereby theeffective wind area of said upper plane may be varied.

4. A flying machine comprising a motor, an upper main plane, a lowermain plane, a pair of rear planes, a movable front plane, the outer endsof thel upper plane being curved upwardly, a central fin extendinglongitudinally of said machine and projecting upwardly from the centralportion of said upper main plane, a movable rear plane, means wherebysaid movable planes may be moved in unison in vopposite directions, andhand operated means whereby the eective wind area of said upper planemay be varied.

In witness whereof, I vhave hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

GORDAN CAMPBELL, WILLIAM CAMPBELL.

